Well casing head



FeE T6, 1932. E. BURNS WELL CASING HEAD Filed July 10, 19:50

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Patented Feb. 16, 1932 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE ERWIN BURNS, 0]? LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR T0 BAASH-ROSS TOOL COMPANY, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA WELL CASING HEAD Application filed July 10,

This invention relates to a head adapted to be applied to the upper end of a well casing. It is a general object of the invention to provide a simple and practical head for applio' cation to the upper end of a well casing that is adaptable to pack off around objects of various sizes extending into the well casing.

It is an object of the invention to provide ahead for use on the upper end of a well caslo ing that embodies means that is adaptable to pack off around objects of various sizes such as drill pipe, well tubing, etc., and which embodies improved means for supporting objects of various sizes such as strings of drill I23 pipe and strings of oil tubing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a well casing head of the character mentioned that embodies a bonnet that may be easily and quickly positioned to trap or catch to fluid discharged from. a string of oil tubing extending through the casing or from the Well casing and to pass it into a suitable discharge conduit;

It is another object of the invention to provide a head of the character mentioned that is adapted to carry packing assemblies or devices for packing around either a string of pipe or oil tubing and which includes means for actuating or compressing such packing 33 devices.

It is another object of the invention to provide a casinghead of the character mentioned that issturdy and dependable, and that is capable of withstanding or holding high '5 gas pressures to prevent the well from blowing out. i

It is a further object of the invention to provide a casing head of the character mentioned that maybe easily and quickly converted from a casing-head for packing ofi' around and supporting a-String of drill pipe extending through a well casing to a tubing head for packing off around and supporting a string of oil tubing extending into the eas- O'- Other objects and features of theinvention will be best and more fully understood from the following detailed description of typical forms and applications of the invention, throughout which description reference 1930. Serial No. 467,353.

is had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a vertical detailed sectional view 1 through the body and showing the bonnetin position on the body. Fig. 2 is a vertical detailed sectional View of the head showing it in sealing and supporting engagement with a length of drill pipe and illustrating it with the bonnet removed. Fig. 3is a transverse detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 3-3.on Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical detailed sectional 'view of a portion of a packing assembly taken as indicated by line 4 1- on Fig. 1 illustrating the mounting of one of the latches embodied in the assembly.

In Figs. 1 and 3 ofthe drawings I have illustrated an oil tubing extending through the head and have illustrated the packing and supporting means in operative enga ement with the tubing. The bonnet embo led in the invention is illustrated on the head to receive fluid discharged from the oil tubing or from the well casing. In Fig.2 of the drawings a drill pipe P is illustrated extending through the head, and packing means and supporting means are shown in operative engagement on the pipe.

The application of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings includes, generally, a body 10 adapted to be applied to the upper end of a well casing G, a. packing assembly 11 arranged in the body 10 and 0perable to seal around an object extending through the body such as a length of oil tubing T, a spider 12 for actuating the packing assembly 11, means 13 carried by the splder 12315017 supporting the oil tubing T, and a bonnet 14 on the body 10 to-receive and confine fluid dischar ed through the oil tubing T, or the casing in'the event that the well b ows out when there are no tools, or the like, in the casing.

The body 10 is tubular, having a central longitudinal opening 15 for" passing well I body. The flange may be comparatively packing assembly 11. The body 10 may be mounted on or connected with the well casing C in any suitable manner.

In the particular case illustrated in the drawings the lower portion of the opening 15 is screw threaded to receive the upper end of the casing C. Fluid discharge conduits 17 communicate with the opening 15 below the tapered shoulder 16. The upper portion 19 of the opening 15 is enlarged to receive the spider 12 as will be hereinafter described. A radially projectingannular flange 20 is provided on the body 10. The flange 20 is pro vided to carry the bonnet 14 and is spaced a short distance below the upper end of the heavy and may be integral with the body 10.

The packing assembly 11 for packing ofl' around the tubing T is such that it may be quickly and easily arranged in operative po- 'sition in the opening 15 in a position to be actuated by the spider-12 to seal with the tubing T and the walls of the opening 15. In accordance with the broader principles of the invention any suitable type of packing device adapted to pack around the tubing T may be arranged in the head. In the preferred embodiment of the invention an improved type of packing assembly 11 is arranged 1n the opening 15 of the body 10.

The packing device or assembly 11 1s preferably longitudinally split into two or more sections so that it may be readily assembled around the tubing T. The assembly 11 1ncludes a body of compressible and expansible packing 21 and collars 22 and 23 at the upper and lower ends, respectively, of the packing 21. The packing 21 and the collars 22 and 23 are proportioned to normally shdably ht the opening 15. .The exterior of the lower collar 23 is tapered downwardly and inwardly to seat on the shoulder 16 to support the assembly 11 in the opening 15. The annular body of packing 21 is adapted to be expanded to effectively seal with the tubing T andthe walls of the opening 15. Wedge projections 25 are provided on the inner sides of the collars 22 and 23 to effectively expand the packing 21 radially upon actuation of the assem bly. The wedge projections 25 extend into grooves 26 in the body of packing 21 and are formed so that they expand the packing 21 radially inward and radially outward into sealing engagement with the tubing T and the walls of the opening 15.

The packing assembly 11 is preferably proportioned so that the upper collar pro jects upwardly into the enlarged portion 19 of the opening 15. Latches 27 are provided on the collar 22 to be engaged by the spider 12 to compress or actuate the assembly 11. The

latches 27 are pivotally mounted in recess-es 28 in the upper side of the collar 22 and their outer ends normally project outwardly from the periphery of the collar 22. The latches is provided for automatically returning the latches 27 to the horizontal position where they project from the collar 22 at thelower end of the spider 12 when the assembly is seated in the opening 15. Torsional springs 28 are provided at the pivotal connection of the latches 27 to normally yieldingly hold the latches in the horizontal position and to automatically return the latches to the horizontal position upon the assembly 11 being lowered to a position where the collar 22 is below the lower end of the spider 12.

The spider 12 is provlded to actuate or co1npress the packing 21 of the packing assembly 11 and to support the tubing suspending means 13. The spider 12 is a tubular member screw threaded into the enlarged portion 19 of the body opening 15. The lower portion 29 of the opening in the spider 12 is of substantially the same diameter as the opening 15 so that it is adapted to pass the well drilling tools and the packing assembly 11. The upper portion 30 of the opening through the spider 12 is tapered downwardly and inwardly to carry the tubing suspending means 13 as will behcreinafter described. Openings 31 may be provided in the spider 12 to re ceive suitable tools for actuating or threading the spider into the opening 19. The lower end of the spider 12 is adapted to engage the latches 27 upon threading of the spider downwardly into the opening 15.

The means 13 for supporting or suspending the oil tubing T includes slips 31 for engaging the tubing T. In accordance with the invention the upper portion 30 of the opening in the spider 12 is proportioned to carry slips or suitablemeans for supporting drill pipe orother objects larger than the tubing T, and the means 13 includes a bushing 33 to be arranged in the tapered portion 30- of the opening in the spider to carry the slips 31 The bushing 33 may be sectional and its exterior is shaped to effectively seat in the tapered portion 30 of the spider opening. The

bushing 33 is provided with a downwardly 1:;

and inwardly converging opening 34: for carrying the slips 31% Screw threaded openings 35 may be provided in the upper end of the bushing 33 for receiving suitable lifting tools to facilitate handling of the bushing.

l a'i tion where the latches 27 a are adapted to be casing C. The bonnet 14 is in the nature of a tubular hood-like member and is adapted to be supported on the'flange 20 in a position where it covers or encases the upper end ofthe body 10, the spider 12, and the upper projecting end of the tubing T. An outward ly projecting annular flange 36 is provided at the lower end of the bonnet 14 to seat on the flange 20. The flanges 20 and 36 may be detachably connected by suitable bolts 37. i

In accordance with the preferred form of the invention means is provided to form a fluid pressure tight seal' between the flanges 20 and 36. In the particular case illustrated the means for sealing between the flanges 20 and 36 includes annular grooves 38 in the lower side of the flange 36. Suitable packing may be arranged in the grooves38 and ananular projections or ribs 39 are provided on the upper side of the flange 20 to extend 1nto the grooves 38 to compress the packing in the grooves. j

The bonnet 14 projects upwardly some distance above the spider 12 and the upper end 40 of the bonnet is of reduced diameter for connection with a fluid conduit. A fluid discharge conduit may be connected .with the reduced upper end 40 of the bonnet in any suitable manner. In the particular case illus trated in the drawings aconduit 41. is screw threaded onto the reduced portion 40.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings a drill pipe P is shown extending through the opening 15 of the body 10. A packing assembly 11 similar to the packing assembly 11 described above may be arranged in the opening 15 to pack around the pipe P. The packing assembly 11 is proportioned to efl'ectively operate in the opening 15 to seal around the drill pipe P. The spider 12 may be employed to engage the latches 27 a at the upper end of'the assembly 11 to actuate the packing 21 of the assembly. a a

The drill pipe P may be supported on the head by suitable slips arranged in thetapered upper portion 30 of the opening in the spider 12. When the casing head construction provided by the present invention is .employed to pack around and support a string of drill pipe P,the bonnet 14 may or may not be arranged on the body 10. In the event that the well is produced through the drill pipe P, that is, in the event that fluid is discharged from the upper end of the pine P, the bonnet 14 may be arranged on.the body to control the discharge.

It will be obvious how the packing assembly 11 may be assembled on the drill pipe P and lowered into the opening 15 to a posiengaged by the spider 12. The spider 12 may be threaded into the enlarged portion 19 of the opening 15 to engage the latches 27 and actuate the packing of the assembly 11. The

slips 50 may be readily positioned in the spi-- and quickly converted from a casing head for packing around and supporting a drill pipe P to a tubing head for supporting and packing around oil tubing T and for receiving fluid discharged from the oil tubing, etc. The body 10 of the head is of particularly simple construction and does not include parts that may hinder operations when the device is employed to pack off around a drill pipe. The spider 12 is adapted to actuate either a packing assembly 11 for seal ng with adrill pipe P or a packing assembly ll for sealing with an oil tubing T. The 1nvention provides means whereby the spider 12 is adaptable to support either a string of drill pipe P or a string of oil tubing T. The

bonnet 14 is of particularly simple construction and may be easily and quickly positioned on the body 10.

Having described only typical preferred forms of my invention, I do not wish to limit myself to the specific details set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any changes or variations thatmay appear to those skllled 1n the art or fall within the scope of the followin claims:

aving described my invention, I claim:

1. A head adapted to be applied to a well casing including, a body having an opening, a spider threaded into the upper end of the opening, a packing device adapted to be lowered through the spider to a position in the opening, a latch on the packing device adapted to operate past the spider to a position below the lower end of the spider when the packing device is lowered into the opening, and means carried by the spider for supporting an object extending through the opening.

2. A head adapted to be applied to a well casing including, a body having an'opening adapted to pass an object, a spider threaded to the body and extending into the upper end of the opening, a packing assembly adapted to be lowered through the spider into the opening, a plurality of latches pivotally mounted on the assembly adapted to be operated'past the spider to positions in the opening where they are engageable by the spider, and means on the spider for supporting an object. v

3.14. head adapted to be applied to a well casing including, a body having an opening adapted to pass an object, a spider threaded to the body and extending into the upper end of the opening, a packing assembly adapted to be lowered through the spider engaged by the spider, means on the spider for supporting the ob ect.

In witness that I claim the foregomg I] have hereunto subscribed my name this 28th F day of June, 1930.

" ERVVIN BURNS.

ered throughthe spider to a position in the opening, a latch pivotally mounted on the packingvdevice adapted to operate past the spider to a position below the lower end of the spider when the packing device is lowered into the opening, and means carried by the spider for supporting an object extending through the opening.

5. A head adapted to be applied to a well casing including, a body having an opening for passing an object extending into the easing, a spider screw threaded into the upper end of the opening, a packing assembly adapted to be lowered into the opening through the spider, the assembly including expansible packing and means for expanding the packing to seal around an object upon a compression strain being put on the assembly, a latch on the assembly adapted to operate past the spider when the assembly is lowered into the opening to a position where it is adapted to be engaged by the spider to actuate the said means, and means carried by the spider for supporting an ob j ect extending into the opening.

6. A head adapted to be mounted on a well casing including, a body having an opening, the upper portion of the opening being enlarged, a tubular spider screw threaded into the enlarged portion of the opening, the internal diameter of the spider being substan tially the same as the diameter of the open ing, a packing assembly adapted to be passed through the spider into the opening, and a latch on the assembly adapted to be operated past the spider when the assembly is passed through the spider to a position in the enlarged portion of the opening where it is adapted to be engaged by the spider.

7. A head adapted to be mounted on a well casing including, a body having an opening, the upper portion of the opening being en larged, atubular spider screw threaded into the enlarged portion of the opening,the internal diameter of the spider being substantially the same as the diameter of the opening, a packing assembly adapted to be passed through the spider into the opening, a pivotally mounted latch on the assembly projecting from the assembly into the enlarged portion of the openingwhen the assembly is in the opening so that it is adapted to be 

